MINI REVIEW article
Front. Cell Dev. Biol.
Sec. Cell Growth and Division
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1603678
This article is part of the Research Topic7th International Symposium on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: Peripheral Nerve Regeneration - Advances and New DirectionsView all 16 articles
Novelties and limitations of tissue-engineered materials in treating traumatic nerve injuries: a mini review
Provisionally accepted
Stefanie Deininger*
Andreas Knoll
Nadja Grübel
Andrej Pala
Ralph König
Christian Rainer WirtzMaria Teresa Pedro- Department of Neurosurgery, Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg, University of Ulm, Günzburg, Germany, Günzburg, Germany
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Peripheral nerve injuries remain challenging due to the limited regenerative capacity over long distances and the complexity of repair mechanisms. While autologous nerve grafts are the clinical gold standard, their use is restricted by donor-site morbidity and tissue availability. Tissue-engineered materials such as nerve guidance conduits (NGCs), hydrogels, and bioactive scaffolds offer alternative solutions by providing structural support and delivering trophic, immunomodulatory, or electrical cues. This mini-review categorizes these materials by their functional properties, including drug delivery, cell integration, and electroactivity, and critically assesses their preclinical performance and translational limitations.Natural materials such as collagen and chitosan exhibit good biocompatibility but limited mechanical stability and variability. Synthetic polymers and electroactive materials allow for customization and controlled stimulation but often provoke immune responses or degrade into harmful byproducts. Advanced drug-delivery systems using hydrogels and microspheres enable targeted factor release, yet reproducibility and kinetics remain critical barriers. Cell-integrated constructs, including Schwann cell-like cells and engineered neural tissue, offer high regenerative potential but face challenges in scalability, regulatory classification, and manufacturing. Importantly, many preclinical studies do not benchmark against autografts or address neuroma formation, fibrosis, and delayed regeneration-key issues in human lesions.A summary of preclinical constructs and translational barriers is provided to highlight recurring obstacles such as immune incompatibility, insufficient vascular integration, and regulatory hurdles. Future research must refine model systems, align regulatory strategies, and enhance construct functionality to enable effective clinical translation.
Keywords: Nerve guide conduit (NGC), traumatic nerve injury, bioengeneering, tissue engineering, Neuroma prevention, Translational barriers, Bioactive materials
Received: 31 Mar 2025; Accepted: 06 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Deininger, Knoll, Grübel, Pala, König, Wirtz and Pedro. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Stefanie Deininger, Department of Neurosurgery, Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg, University of Ulm, Günzburg, Germany, Günzburg, Germany
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.